Simon 'Smudger' Smith has been getting the plaudits after a 2 year absence from the Saltires setup. Dave Fulton, the former Kent captain was quoted as saying “He looked the real deal – it was one of the nimblest displays I’ve seen for a long time.

You can read the full article at the Press & Journal website

Grange 1st XI beat Uddingston by 24 runs
Portgower Place

Grange 147 all out (42.2 overs, C Coles 34)
Uddingston 129 for 9 (45.2 S Chalmers 4-27)

Link to full scorecard

Interesting start by the defending champions, a teamful of batsman manage to have a runs whipround to the meagre sum of 147, but title contenders Uddingston fall short. Great debut by Stuart Chalmers, Grange (and Scotland) could be onto something here.

Grange 2nd XI beat Livingston by 16 runs
Livingston

Grange 110 all out – Kaczynski 27, M Powell 24
Livingston 94 all out – Rankin 3 for 5

With 5 changes, including 3 more debutants and 3 under 16s, this was a nervy encounter on a seemingly flat but soft and difficult pitch. Very different conditions to the week before and the sort of game that Grange 2nd XIs have lost in the past. At 66 for 2 in the 24th over, a total of circa 175 should have been possible. Instead it was 110 all out with Kaz again top-scoring and Mike Powell showing how quality players can play late and work the ball around on any surface. We had to strike quick and we did. They were 10 for 3 and then 30 for 5 at 23 overs, thanks to miserly bowling from the early bowlers including Chris Rankin who ended with 3 for 5 off his 10 overs. However at 85 for 5, the end was nigh until Mark Enos clean bowled the two culprits.  A few big hits might have done it but instead Livingston capitulated to 94 all out.  Exciting stuff but not good for the captain’s ulcer.

Grange 3rd XI beat Preston Village by 4 runs

Grange 124 all out (32 overs R Campbell 23, T Vila 18)
Preston Village 120 all out (42 overs T Vila 3-16, J Metcalfe 3-12)

Grange lost the toss and were inserted on what looked a typical uncovered Scottish wicket in May.
 
Ralph and Tom (making his Grange Debut) opened the batting, and both were quickly in to their stride with some powerful hitting.  Ralph was first to fall after making a quick fire 23, with the score around the 40 mark.
 
A flurry of wickets followed, with the only other notable contributions coming from Shuiab, William, Jack and Krishna.  Kristna and Jack shared a very valuable (some might say match winning) 25 run 10th wicket stand.
 
Grange were finally skittled for 124 in side 32 over’s.
 
Our defence started well with Tom and William showing great control and some heat, each taking a wicket in their first couple of others.
 
Johnny Metcalfe was then introduced and produced his best spell of bowling for the club.  A hostile spell of tight in-swing bowling returned figures of 3-12 from 8 over’s.  The skipper contributed with two wickets from his spell of 8 over’s, but it was left too Tom and Ralph see the Grange home for a very well fought victory, by taking their last three wickets.
 
The final winning margin was just four runs, as Preston were dismissed for 120 inside 42 over’s.
 
This was a fantastic effort by our bowlers and fielding side, each of the XI Grange players contributed to this team victory.  We did the easy things right in field and never gave up.  Many positives can be taken away from this aspect of the game, however a hard lesson  must be learnt about the way we battered.  It is very clear that we can’t afford to bat like that again if we expect to be challenging for promotion come August.
 

Portgower Place, 25th April
Grange 259 /6 – Kaczynski 77, Pollok 54, Young 37, Croall 32 no
Marchmont 204 all out – B Powell 4 for 50, Kaczynski 4 for 52

With 5 debutants after the winter exodus, and the new captain epitomising Grange’s youth policy, the impressive batting total on an easy paced early season pitch was based on partnerships of 85, 63 and 73 with 156 being added in the last 20 overs. The individual highlight was Kaz’s highest ever score for the 2nd XI after several decades of effort and psychological counselling.  In reply Marchmont put on 98 for the first wicket and at 139 for 2 were threatening until Blaine Powell took 3 wickets in the 34th over.  Game over.

Saturday 9th May - Grange 70's Party

First big event of the summer, Saturday night fever at Stag Park........yeah baby yeah!!!
 
Friends and family welcome, Kaz is going to cook up a storm 70's style
 
Let's try for a big turnout, and get a few beers in to kick off the season.
 
Fancy dress COMPULSORY!!! prize for best moustache
 
MOOF & GILO